Food and Beverage Delivery System on Autonomous and Semi-Autonomous Vehicle

Abstract

Provided herein is an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle fleet comprising a plurality of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles for delivering a food or beverage item to a customer. The autonomous vehicle herein may comprise of storage units that are easily configured to effectively and efficiently carry different types of food or beverage items, including a temperature control system configured to maintain a target unit temperature for different types of food or beverage items.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle comprising:
 a conveyance system arranged to translate the vehicle autonomously or semi-autonomously;   a plurality of storage compartments including a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment; and   a vehicle processor, the vehicle processor configured to provide at least one of a database, an order module, a distribution module, and a loading module, wherein
 a) the database is arranged to store a plurality of storage compartment profiles associated with the plurality of storage compartments, the plurality of storage compartment profiles including a first storage compartment profile associated with the first storage compartment and a second storage compartment profile associated with the second storage compartment, the database further being arranged to store at least one item profile associated with the at least one item and a target item temperature for the item, wherein the first storage compartment profile includes a location of the first storage compartment on the vehicle and the second storage compartment profile includes a location of the second storage compartment on the vehicle; 
 b) the order module is arranged to obtain an order from a customer, wherein the order includes the at least one item profile, 
 c) the distribution module is arranged to assign the at least one item profile associated with the order to at least one of the plurality of storage compartments using the plurality of storage compartment profiles based at least on the target item temperature and the location of the at least one of the plurality of storage compartments, and 
 d) the loading module is arranged to direct loading of the at least one item into the at least one of the plurality of storage compartments based on an assignment of the at least one item profile. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the order is a first order and wherein the first order includes a first delivery state, the first delivery state being associated with the target item temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 2  wherein the at last one item profile includes a first item profile and a second item profile, the distribution module being arranged to assign the first item profile to the first storage compartment profile and the second item profile to a second storage compartment profile based on the location of the second storage compartment being far from the first storage compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the at least one item profile associated with a size, and wherein the distribution module further assigns the at least one item profile at least one of the first storage compartment profile and the second storage compartment unit profile based on the size. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle processor is configured to provide the at least one of a database, the order module, the distribution module, and the loading module. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 1  further including:
 a temperature control system, the temperature control system configured to maintain a first storage compartment target temperature within at least the first storage compartment. 
 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 6  wherein the temperature control system is further configured to maintain a second storage compartment target temperature within the second storage compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 1  further including:
 a display case, the display case arranged in the first storage compartment; 
 a temperature control system, the temperature control system configured to maintain a first storage compartment target temperature within the display case. 
 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle processor is configured to provide the database and the vehicle further includes:
 a communication module, wherein the vehicle communicates with a fleet management system using the communication module to exchange information with the order module, the distribution module, and the loading module. 
 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the first storage compartment is securable and the second storage compartment is securable, and wherein the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment are separately securable. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle, the vehicle being autonomous or semi-autonomous, comprising:
 a conveyance system arranged to translate the vehicle autonomously or semi-autonomously;   a plurality of storage compartments including a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment;   a temperature control system, the temperature control system configured to maintain a first storage compartment target temperature within the first storage compartment, the temperature control system further configured to maintain a second storage compartment target temperature within the second storage compartment; and   a communication module, the communication module configured to enable the vehicle to obtain information from a fleet management system, the fleet management system including
 a) a database arranged to store a plurality of storage compartment profiles associated with the plurality of storage compartments, the plurality of storage compartment profiles including a first storage compartment profile associated with the first storage compartment and a second storage compartment profile associated with the second storage compartment, the database further being arranged to store at least one item profile associated with the at least one item and a target item temperature for the item, wherein the first storage compartment profile includes a location of the first storage compartment on the vehicle and the second storage compartment profile includes a location of the second storage compartment on the vehicle; 
 b) an order module arranged to obtain an order from a customer, wherein the order includes the at least one item profile, 
 c) a distribution module arranged to assign the at least one item profile associated with the order to at least one of the plurality of storage compartments using the plurality of storage compartment profiles based at least on the target item temperature and the location of the at least one of the plurality of storage compartments, and 
 d) a loading module arranged to direct loading of the at least one item into the at least one of the plurality of storage compartments based on an assignment of the at least one item profile. 
   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11  further including:
 a display case, the display case arranged in the first storage compartment, wherein the temperature control system us configured to maintain the first storage compartment target temperature within the display case. 
 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the order is a first order and wherein the first order includes a first delivery state, the first delivery state being associated with the target item temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 12  wherein the at last one item profile includes a first item profile and a second item profile, the distribution module being arranged to assign the first item profile to the first storage compartment profile and the second item profile to a second storage compartment profile based on the location of the second storage compartment being far from the first storage compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 11  wherein the at least one item profile associated with a size, and wherein the distribution module further assigns the at least one item profile at least one of the first storage compartment profile and the second storage compartment unit profile based on the size. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle, the vehicle being part of a fleet of vehicles managed by a fleet management system, the vehicle comprising:
 a conveyance system arranged to translate the vehicle autonomously or semi-autonomously;   a plurality of securable storage compartments including a first securable storage compartment and a second securable storage compartment, the first securable storage compartment and the second securable storage compartment being separately securable;   a distribution processor configured to provide a distribution module;   a temperature control system, the temperature control system configured to maintain a first storage compartment target temperature within the first securable storage compartment, the temperature control system further configured to maintain a second storage compartment target temperature within the second securable storage compartment; and   a communication module, the communication module configured to enable the vehicle to obtain information from the fleet management system, the fleet management system being arranged to communicate with the plurality of vehicles including the vehicle, the fleet management system including
 a) a database arranged to store a plurality of storage compartment profiles associated with the plurality of securable storage compartments, the plurality of storage compartment profiles including a first storage compartment profile associated with the first securable storage compartment and a second storage compartment profile associated with the second securable storage compartment, the database further being arranged to store at least one item profile associated with the at least one item and a target item temperature for the item, wherein the first storage compartment profile includes a location of the first securable storage compartment on the vehicle and the second storage compartment profile includes a location of the second securable storage compartment on the vehicle; 
 b) an order module arranged to obtain an order from a customer, wherein the order includes the at least one item profile, and 
 c) a loading module arranged to direct loading of the at least one item into the at least one of the plurality of securable storage compartments based on an assignment of the at least one item profile, wherein the distribution module is arranged to assign the at least one item profile associated with the order to at least one of the plurality of securable storage compartments using the plurality of storage compartment profiles based at least on the target item temperature and the location of the at least one of the plurality of securable storage compartments. 
   
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the order is a first order and wherein the first order includes a first delivery state, the first delivery state being associated with the target item temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 17  wherein the at last one item profile includes a first item profile and a second item profile, the distribution module being arranged to assign the first item profile to the first storage compartment profile and the second item profile to a second storage compartment profile based on the location of the second securable storage compartment being far from the first securable storage compartment. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 16  wherein the at least one item profile associated with a size, and wherein the distribution module further assigns the at least one item profile at least one of the first storage compartment profile and the second storage compartment unit profile based on the size. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 16  further including:
 a display case, the display case arranged in the first securable storage compartment, wherein the temperature control system us configured to maintain the first storage compartment target temperature within the display case.